Japan Free Trade Agreement

Debate between Lia Nici and Elizabeth Truss

Monday 14th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are in active negotiations with the United States, and one of the things I have been very clear about is that we need to see those unfair section 232 tariffs on our steel removed.

[Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) (Con)]

We are very excited in Grimsby about this trade deal, because we feel it will create a huge benefit for our family-owned fish processors, particularly those for flat fish, and for our fish smokehouses of Alfred Enderby. How will this help to improve fisheries?

[Elizabeth Truss]

There are two benefits for fisheries from this deal. First, we are going to see a reduction in tariffs on all kinds of fish, be it mackerel, cod or salmon. And my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that traditional Grimsby smoked fish is one of the geographical indicators we are going to replicating in Japan.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lia Nici and Elizabeth Truss

Thursday 18th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

It is very important to note that we are not going to be lowering our food standards in any of our trade negotiations. British food standards—or certainly those in England and Wales—are a matter for the Food Standards Agency, and it is down to the agency to ensure that standards are upheld. Those standards are also in UK law, transferred as part of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, so they are guaranteed, and the Food Standards Agency is an independent body designed to ensure that they are upheld.

[Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that all parts of the UK benefit from future free trade agreements.